Lamp with tiltable light switch



Aug. 7, 1956 LAMP L. LUDWlG WITH TILTABLE LIGHT SWITCH Filed March 25, 1954 VENTOR.

vow/G United States Patent Ofi ice 2,758,195 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 LAMP WITH TILTABLE LIGHT SWITCH Louis Ludwig, New York, N. Y. Application March 23, 1954, Serial No. 418,027

2 Claims. (Cl. 240-2) The present invention is directed to a switch arrangement, more particularly to a combination of at least two electric lights adapted to be lit alternately to give the desired degree of illumination.

It is customary particularly in childrens bedrooms to have a very dim night light burning throughout the night in order that a parent or other person may be able to see the objects in the room without awakening the child. it often occurs that during the night a visit is made to the child for various purposes and during such visit, it is necessary to have a bright light. Heretofore the night light and the bright light have been entirely independent and they had no relation to each other.

The present invention is directed to a combination wherein both of the lights are interconnected for convenience and it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a unit including a switch for a plurality of lights, which is easily and conveniently operable.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a combination of lights and switch which is particularly adapted for use in childrens bedrooms and which will provide both night and bright lights within the unit.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a device of the character set forth above which is simple in construction, positive in operation and attractive in appearance.

It is still further among the objects to provide a device which may be contacted by the hand at any part thereof even in the dark to make a lamp circuit.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided a bar which is balanced on a suitable base at a central point so that when the base rests on a plane surface, the bar may be tilted from one side to the other. At the ends of the bar, electric lights or lamps are inserted and preferably a translucent or transparent figure made of plastic or other suitable material is placed over each of the electric lamps.

Suitable electrical connections are made so that a ball is provided within the bar which is adapted to roll from side to side. When the ball is in position on one side, the night lamp is lit and when the bar is tilted to the other side, the ball rolls over and the bright lamp is lit. When the ball is in an intermediate position, the electrical connections are broken and neither light is lit.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a tiltable light switch arrangement, made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. l, but illustrating the electrical circuits and elements forming the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

The device consists essentially of a base 1 of any suitable form and of non-conducting material, the lower portion at least thereof having a convex curvature so that limited rolling movement thereof is obtainable. Fixed on top of base 1 and transversely to the axis thereof is a bar 2 of non-conducting material, here shown in the form of a log. Said bar is hollow and has fixed at opposite ends thereof, lamp sockets 3 and 4 adapted to hold a night light 5 and a bright light 6. When the device is to be used in a iChild S room, there may be placed over the lamps transparent or translucent figures 7 and 8, respectively.

Hollow space 9 constituting a trough has angular sides 10 and 11, which as shown are approximately at to each other. On side 10 are fixed a pair of conducting elements 12 and 13, having a gap 14 therebe tween. On the opposite side 11 is a continuous conducting element consisting of two parts 15 and 16 having an angular portion 17 therebetween. Said portion is within gap 14 so that ball 18 may rest therein without making contact with elements 12 and 13.

The outer end 20 of element 12 is electrically connected to the side of socket 3 and wire 21 is connected to the bottom of socket 3 and to wire 22. Similarly the outer end 23 of element 13 is connected to the side of socket 4 and a wire 24 connected to the bottom of socket 4 is electrically connected to wire 22. A wire 25 makes electrical contact with bar 15-46 and is connected to wire 26. Wires 22 and 26 are encased in insulating material 27 and are plugged into a suitable source of current.

In the operation of the device, when the elements are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, night light 5 is lit since ball 18 makes contact with elements 12 and 13, completing the circuit. When it is desired to cut off the light, bar 2 is tilted downwardly at the right, causing ball 18 to fall into gap 14, thereby breaking the circuit. When it is desired to light the bright light, the right end of bar 2 is tilted downwardly with a fairly sharp motion, sufiicient to cause ball 18 to leave gap 14 and rest in the space between elements 13 and 16, thus closing the circuit of bright light 6.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a certain specific embodiment thereof, various changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the principles herein set forth. For instance, base 1 need not be circular but may be of any desired shape just so it is capable of permitting tilting of bar 2. Thus the bottom of base 1 may be fiat over a short area and angular flat portions may be provided adjacent thereto. Bar 2 need not be in the form of a log but any suitable shape may be used. Conducting elements .12, 13, 15 and 16 are shown as fiat strips of metal but they may be made of any suitable shape just so ball 18 is capable of making electrical contact in the desired positions.

These and other changes in the details of construction may be made within the spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited except by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A tiltable light and switch combination comprising a base adapted to rest on a plane surface, the under side of said base having a convex curvature to permit rolling thereof on said surface, a transverse bar secured to said base at a central area thereof, lamps mounted in sockets on opposite ends of said bar, cooperating conductive switch elements in said bar connected to said lamps. wiring attached to one of said elements and said lamps said wiring passing through said base and adapted to be connected to a source of current, and a ball in said bar adapted in some positions to bridge said elements and in other positions to break contact with said elements, a longitudinal trough in said bar, said elements being mounted on opposite sides of said trough, said ball being adapted to roll in said trough and on said elements, the element on one side being divided with a central gap between the parts thereof said gap being located directly above said base, the element on the other side being continuous and having a'depressed portion opposite said gap to hold said ball in disconnected position, the ends of said divided element being connected to one terminal of said lamps.

2. A tiltable light and switch combination comprising a base adapted to rest on a plane surface, the under side of said base having a convex curvature to permit rolling thereof on said surface, a transverse bar secured to said base at a central area thereof, lamps mounted in sockets on opposite ends of said bar, cooperating conductive switch elements in said bar connected to said lamps, wiring attached to one of said elements and said lamps said Wiring passing through said base and adapted to be connected to a source of current, and a ball in said bar adapted in some positions to bridge said elements and in 4 other positions to break contact with said elements, a longitudinal trough in said bar, said elements being mounted on opposite sides of said trough, said ball being adapted to roll in said trough and on said elements, the clement on one side being divided with a central gap between the parts thereof, the element on the other side being continuous and having a-depressed portion opposite said gap to hold said ball in disconnected position, said gap being located directly above said base, the Weight of said bar being in balance on opposite sides of said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,836 Barker Aug. 11, 1908 1,125,059 Carroll et al. Jan. 19, 1915 2,206,094 Hobbs July 2, 1940 2,247,591 Sundee July 1, 1941 2,448,681 Nutter Sept. 7, 1948 2.493.491 MacMahon Jan. 3. 1950 

